Beijing, the capital of China, has a history spanning thousands of years. As the country’s long-time political center and heart, it boasts countless ancient structures, including the famed Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Let’s explore some fun places for a one-day trip to Beijing.
After a night of heavy rain, the air in Tianjin felt refreshed. The sweltering heat of the past week had quietly retreated with the rain. The cool weather lifted our spirits. My family and I took the intercity train to Beijing with our children, speeding towards the city.
Lost in the laughter and chatter of the children, we arrived in Beijing before we knew it. It was too early to check in to our hotel, and our children couldn’t wait, so we hurriedly dropped our bags and took a taxi straight to Tiananmen Square. Even though I’ve visited the square countless times, my niece’s first trip to Beijing filled me with excitement to see their joy.
As we passed through the underground passage next to the Flag-Raising Hotel, my five-year-old daughter asked me where we’d be staying. I jokingly said, “We’ll be sleeping in the tunnel tonight on a mat.”
Our quick-witted little girl, having noticed that we were going to the hotel to check in first, retorted with a triumphant grin, which sent everyone into fits of laughter.
On a weekend during summer vacation, almost every attraction in Beijing was packed with people, making it hard to tell whether you were seeing the sights or a sea of heads.
The anxiety and impatience of waiting in line, though increasingly evident on our children’s young faces, couldn’t compete with the majestic Zhengyang Gate just a short distance away. We pushed our way forward through the throng, finally reaching the square.
Standing in the square, surrounded by people from all walks of life and foreign visitors enjoying the views and taking pictures, a sense of national pride swelled within me. The fluttering five-star red flag, the monument standing tall in the center of the square, the solemn Mao Zedong Memorial Hall—all became backdrops for their photographs. They would occasionally bring up Tiananmen Square from books or stories they’d heard, bragging about it as if they were already familiar with the place.
Suddenly, the fountains beneath Tiananmen Gate erupted to the rhythm of music, their graceful movements shifting with the slow, melodious tunes and the gentle breeze. At one moment, they resembled a tango; at another, a ballet, captivating the children’s hearts.
Driven by their excitement, we went under Tiananmen Gate to take a closer look, snapping photos and explaining to them about the Imperial Stele and the reason behind Mao Zedong’s portrait on the gate. We answered their childish, often humorous questions over and over, then pushed through the crowd to enter the Forbidden City through the gate.
I’ve been to the Forbidden City many times, but each visit fills me with awe at this ancient complex of buildings! From the Meridian Gate, we entered the main hall and followed the central axis, passing through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the Imperial Garden, and finally reaching the Gate of Divine Might. Then, we turned right and walked back through the side halls.
The golden rooftops glistened under the sun, setting off the imperial hues of a bygone era, making them even more captivating!
Entering the gates and then halls, each palace, though varying in size, exuded grandeur with its intricately carved beams and pillars, the enameled decorations under the eaves, and the heavy palace gates, all testaments to the illustrious history of a vast empire that spanned millennia!
Despite the thousands of tourists who visit every day, I believe that none of us can help but feel a sense of awe at this ancient grandeur, a far cry from the melancholic sentiment expressed in the line “The swallows of the former kings and nobles of the Xie family now nest in ordinary houses” or Li Houzhu’s lament, “The carved railings and jade-like walls should still be there, only the faces have changed.”
The Imperial Garden, in reality, lacked an abundance of flowers. Instead, ancient trees towered over the grounds, their varied heights creating a sense of serenity. A glimpse of a corner of a pavilion was vaguely discernible, adding to the tranquil atmosphere.
As we strolled through the garden, though there were no flowing streams, there were many peculiar stones. Their leisurely placement enhanced the feeling of contentment. Following the path, we walked through a dense forest and came upon a lone ancient tree, its leaves shed, branches bare, its gnarled limbs twisting upwards. Looking up, we found a unique sense of beauty.
Further along, countless ancient cypresses stood. One, already dead, had a unique shape. Its trunk was irregularly covered with bumps of various sizes, contrasting with the light brown bark, adding a unique charm. It reminded me of the legendary “Bumpy Cypress” mentioned by old Beijingers. After all, the Bumpy Cypress came first, and then the Forbidden City!
Continuing on, we reached the Gate of Divine Might, then led the children back through the side halls. We passed the Bronze Ware Gallery, the Precious Objects Gallery, and several other exhibition halls showcasing five millennia of Chinese culture. Perhaps because the children were too young, or maybe because they were hungry, we left the Forbidden City through the China Gate in a hurry.
As for the long history and culture, we’ll explore that with the children slowly over time.
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